SALEM/NAMAKKAL: The Supreme Court verdict upholding the death sentences awarded to three AIADMK functionaries in the Dharmapuri bus burning case has brought some relief to the kin of the victims.
At the same time, they are concerned about the existing slow-paced justice delivery system.
“Truth has triumphed finally, but the delayed justice upsets me. It has raised doubts in the minds of ordinary people about the system,” said N P Veerasamy, whose daughter Kokilavani was killed in the incident.
A poultry owner in Namakkal, Veerasamy had al most turned into an activist as the case got entangled in problems. When the witnesses turned hostile, he filed a petition seeking transfer of the case from the Dharmapuri court. And the High Court transferred it to the Salem Additional Sessions Court.
When the verdict came out on Monday, he did not forget to thank all those who helped him in his fight for justice. “I thank the CB-CID for its investigations. They produced the accused and witnesses in the court several times during the trial. I also thank the prosecution and judges,” he said. The photo of Kokilvani in her house at Namakkal was cleaned and garlanded.
Public prosecutor at the trail court in Salem R Srinivasan said, “The Supreme Court verdict upholding capital punishment given in the lower court is a good decision. Its judgment has certainly retained the gist of the what was delivered by D Krishnaraja, judge of the Additional Sessions Court in Salem. It is a strong message against mob violence.”